Cyprus-Forum.com

[kurupetos]

First and second divisions are fully professional leagues, mate. You could start from the lowest league (5th tier).

Here's the facebook link for EPEL Larnaca, which is the local Larnaca division (agrotiko).

https://www.facebook.com/EpeLarnaka

[Get Real!]

The Cypriot clubs shop wisely… they go find players in Brazil, Africa and similar places where the pay sucks. These players are only too happy to move to Europe where they’re guaranteed some games and often group stage in European tournaments every year, whereas most of the British clubs will never make EL/CL.

Results are results... Dortmund had two chances to beat APOEL but failed to win in both. You reckon the likes of Sunderland, Bolton, or Birmingham would beat the aggressive Apollon? I doubt it!

I'm not sure. I just think it's odd that if these players are better than what is in the Championship in England, that they don't all end up there.

The only real indicator we have is money, and lets face it players follow money, it's a short career. Just had a quick look and the average wage bill for the top 5 in Cyprus is €2,000,000. I understand there is more from CL and Europa League bonuses' but that's the base. Bear in mind there's also big bonuses for cup runs and promotion in England. The bottom 6 in the Premier League average wage bill is €75m. For the Championship it's €27m and for League One it's €5m.

I'd be very surprised if a player in Cyprus was good enough for the Championship but was happy to accept €200,000 a year instead of going to the Championship where he would be likely on €1,000,000+. As I said, a short career

British clubs pay everything through the nose… that’s how it is. They’re far wealthier so they throw money away but Cypriot clubs count every penny.

If you look at all the clubs that make it to group stage they’re usually worth 40mil and up with the exception of Cypriot clubs which are always <20mil yet they’re no pushovers and can compete ok.

It’s no different to housing… in London 1mil won’t buy you much but in Cyprus you can build a mansion.

[sam9]

First and second divisions are fully professional leagues, mate. You could start from the lowest league (5th tier).

Here's the facebook link for EPEL Larnaca, which is the local Larnaca division (agrotiko).

https://www.facebook.com/EpeLarnaka

Thanks for that. Much appreciated. I was looking for something along those lines. Where the standard is still decent but it's not professional and they train in the evenings.

[sam9]

The Cypriot clubs shop wisely… they go find players in Brazil, Africa and similar places where the pay sucks. These players are only too happy to move to Europe where they’re guaranteed some games and often group stage in European tournaments every year, whereas most of the British clubs will never make EL/CL.

Results are results... Dortmund had two chances to beat APOEL but failed to win in both. You reckon the likes of Sunderland, Bolton, or Birmingham would beat the aggressive Apollon? I doubt it!

I'm not sure. I just think it's odd that if these players are better than what is in the Championship in England, that they don't all end up there.

The only real indicator we have is money, and lets face it players follow money, it's a short career. Just had a quick look and the average wage bill for the top 5 in Cyprus is €2,000,000. I understand there is more from CL and Europa League bonuses' but that's the base. Bear in mind there's also big bonuses for cup runs and promotion in England. The bottom 6 in the Premier League average wage bill is €75m. For the Championship it's €27m and for League One it's €5m.

I'd be very surprised if a player in Cyprus was good enough for the Championship but was happy to accept €200,000 a year instead of going to the Championship where he would be likely on €1,000,000+. As I said, a short career

British clubs pay everything through the nose… that’s how it is. They’re far wealthier so they throw money away but Cypriot clubs count every penny.

If you look at all the clubs that make it to group stage they’re usually worth 40mil and up with the exception of Cypriot clubs which are always <20mil yet they’re no pushovers and can compete ok.

It’s no different to housing… in London 1mil won’t buy you much but in Cyprus you can build a mansion.

Matt Derbyshire is a mid table Championship player at best, yet he was the top scorer in Cyprus by a distance last year.

The best way to settle this debate is for me to witness it for myself and be proven wrong I'm really looking forward to being a fan again and enjoying the match day experience. Thank you for the advice and I look forward to living in your beautiful country.

[Sotos]

Apart from money maybe psychology and motivation also play a role. I am guessing it is different for a team to be trying to avoid relegation vs trying to win the championship and play in the champions league. Maybe it is also related to the way that some teams play. I sometimes hear about the "English style" of football... I don't know what that is exactly because I am not a football expert, but maybe if a team has to play in a specific style it will get worst results than a team with worst players that plays in a different style.

[Get Real!]

Matt Derbyshire is a mid table Championship player at best, yet he was the top scorer in Cyprus by a distance last year.

The best way to settle this debate is for me to witness it for myself and be proven wrong I'm really looking forward to being a fan again and enjoying the match day experience. Thank you for the advice and I look forward to living in your beautiful country.

The Cypriot league has come a long way... you just haven't been following it. Check out their association ranking...

http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/ ... index.html

Where's your Scotland or Wales?

[sam9]

Matt Derbyshire is a mid table Championship player at best, yet he was the top scorer in Cyprus by a distance last year.

The best way to settle this debate is for me to witness it for myself and be proven wrong I'm really looking forward to being a fan again and enjoying the match day experience. Thank you for the advice and I look forward to living in your beautiful country.

The Cypriot league has come a long way... you just haven't been following it. Check out their association ranking...

http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/ ... index.html

Where's your Scotland or Wales?

I think you've taken me up wrong. I'm certainly not having a go at the Cypriot league, I was just surprised with the comparison with Newcastle, a club with 50,000 average attendance, 200m+ in revenue every year and had a wage bill of 70m+. I was surprised to hear a club with a wage bill of around 2m-3m would be comparable to them over the course of a season.

I played in Scotland for 3 seasons and I have no doubt the Cyprus league is as good if not better. Again, in no way was I trying to belittle the league. It's not like I was a champions league regular!!

[kurupetos]

Matt Derbyshire is a mid table Championship player at best, yet he was the top scorer in Cyprus by a distance last year.

The best way to settle this debate is for me to witness it for myself and be proven wrong I'm really looking forward to being a fan again and enjoying the match day experience. Thank you for the advice and I look forward to living in your beautiful country.

The Cypriot league has come a long way... you just haven't been following it. Check out their association ranking...

http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/ ... index.html

Where's your Scotland or Wales?

I think you've taken me up wrong. I'm certainly not having a go at the Cypriot league, I was just surprised with the comparison with Newcastle, a club with 50,000 average attendance, 200m+ in revenue every year and had a wage bill of 70m+. I was surprised to hear a club with a wage bill of around 2m-3m would be comparable to them over the course of a season.

I played in Scotland for 3 seasons and I have no doubt the Cyprus league is as good if not better. Again, in no way was I trying to belittle the league. It's not like I was a champions league regular!!

Have you ever played for Everton FC?

[sam9]

Matt Derbyshire is a mid table Championship player at best, yet he was the top scorer in Cyprus by a distance last year.

The best way to settle this debate is for me to witness it for myself and be proven wrong I'm really looking forward to being a fan again and enjoying the match day experience. Thank you for the advice and I look forward to living in your beautiful country.

The Cypriot league has come a long way... you just haven't been following it. Check out their association ranking...

http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/ ... index.html

Where's your Scotland or Wales?

I think you've taken me up wrong. I'm certainly not having a go at the Cypriot league, I was just surprised with the comparison with Newcastle, a club with 50,000 average attendance, 200m+ in revenue every year and had a wage bill of 70m+. I was surprised to hear a club with a wage bill of around 2m-3m would be comparable to them over the course of a season.

I played in Scotland for 3 seasons and I have no doubt the Cyprus league is as good if not better. Again, in no way was I trying to belittle the league. It's not like I was a champions league regular!!

Have you ever played for Everton FC?

Sadly not, played them in the cup once and got a beating Haha

[Get Real!]

I think you've taken me up wrong. I'm certainly not having a go at the Cypriot league, I was just surprised with the comparison with Newcastle, a club with 50,000 average attendance, 200m+ in revenue every year and had a wage bill of 70m+. I was surprised to hear a club with a wage bill of around 2m-3m would be comparable to them over the course of a season.

I played in Scotland for 3 seasons and I have no doubt the Cyprus league is as good if not better. Again, in no way was I trying to belittle the league. It's not like I was a champions league regular!!

No need to get apologetic my friend... we enjoy the odd shit stirring and wind ups in here!

The forum’s football threads have gone quiet now because we basically got eliminated from the EL/CL but of course your clubs continue in the next round… so if you stick around don’t be surprised if we side with Spanish/Italian/German teams just to have a go at you!

Anyway, fare thee well and I hope everything goes smoothly when you move over to CY.